Box-chamfering machine and cutter



March 3, 1931. G. D. GARDNER BOX CHAMFERING MACHINE AND CUTTER Filed y 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 z. E K 2 VD i m 6 March 3, 1 931. D, A N 1,794,604

BOX CHAMFERING MACHINE AND CUTTER Filed July 2 2, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /N\/ENTOE GEORGE D. @BE'DNEE Patented Mar. 3, 1931 DS A E AT Nr GEORGE 1). eanmimaor SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, Assmn'oR, BY MESNEVASSIGNME'NTSJI T SPBAGUEQSELLS CORPORATION, or HooPEs'roN, ILLINOIS, IA CORPORATION or DELAWARE Application filed July 22,

en boxes.

An objectof the invention is to provide an apparatus through which boxes may passed so as to remove the sharp corners thereof, which are dangerous to individuals handling said .boXes, and which will also prepare. the boxes sothat the same may be more 1.0 readily held together when wrapped with string, wire orthe like. p i A ,furtherobject of the invention is to provide a box chambering machine provided with a plurality of cutters thereon so arrangedthat the cutters are self-adj usting and will compensate relative toeach other when the boxes are of various vorirregularsizes or where the contour is irregular.

A still further object otthe invention is to provide abox chamfering machine through which wooden boxes may beautomatically ,moved and held in a pre determined}path of movement during the :chamfefing operationjand a pre-determined depth of the box edges cut off during the chamfering ,operation. a i I Otherobjects of the invention relate to a box .chamfering machine in which skew cutterslare used for chamfering thebox corners and to a complete apparatus of the character to be hereinafter described'tha t is superior in point of simplicity, inexpensiveness of construction, p'os'itiveness of-operation, andfacility and convenience inuse and genera liefficiency. i I

Inthis specification and the'annexed drawings, the invention is illustrated in ,the form considered to :be, the best,but it isto be understood that :the invention .is not limited to such form, because it maybe embodied in other forms, and it is also tobe understood that in and by the claims iollowing the ,descript-ion, it is desired vto coverthe' invention in whatsoever form itmay be embodied; I

In the accompanying two sheets ofdrawi Fig. I representsya sideelevation-of a box chambering 'machine'eonstructed in accordance with my-invention.

Fig. 2 is'ajplanview ofFig. '1,

@BOX-CHAMEER/ING MACHINE 'ANDCUTTER 1925. Serial No. 45,152.

Fig. .3 .elevatiOn-ofFig. 1. F 1g. 4 is an enlarged cross section taken through Fig. 1 on the line Fig. 5 is .a front elevation of one of the" l skew cutters; I a I x ';Fig. 6 a'sectio n taken through Fig.5 on

the line'6.6."

V Fig. 7 is afragmentary section through an edge of one-of the cutters shown in Fig. 6.

In the invention described in the followmg specification, I have devised a machine for 'chamfering' or cutt. in g ofl 1 four corners of a woodenbox simultaneously in one opera tion. M

1 In the'shipment of canned goods, dried fruitjand other commodities in small wooden boxes, or cases, avery'seriousan'd costlyhandicap has always been experienced through breakage in bottoms and lids due to unevenness in material, caused by either shrinkage orexpansi on in thelsame. Itjis found that when the box has been assembled, packed and 'lidd'ed, that ,fthere is a considerable amount of 7 box material over-hanging the sides of the box whichfwhen an attempt is made to handle and stack, results ina break whenever. pressure, or alblow', is brought on the overhanging portion. This break will not occur on'the'line of .the box side, but, in nearly all cases starts at the point where the nearest nail-Iis dri venf1=om one totwlo inches from the side. When this breakoccurs an opening is startedthrough which'the. con

tentslmay, as in dried fruits especially,'es-

capeorbe tampered with. As a'result of this condition transportation companies willnot receive and be responsible for the contents and insist that ,theseboxes be put in proper condition, which is called cooperage.

' To ,obviatefcooperage it has been 'common practice to remove protruding or unevenibox edges and to slightly bevel .or' ch'amfer the same to an angle receding fromthe box side,

, thus producing a smooth package with no sharp corners which also may be, if desired,-

' more readily strapped, tiedor wrapped with wire or other materials to help hold the box firmly together.

*In detail the construction illustrated in the drawings comprises a frame 1 having a substantially ho izontal top surface 2. At the opposite ends of the frame top-2 I have v inountedthe respective pans of bearings 3 and 4,- and in the bearing 3 a shaft 5 is journaleth and in the bearing f a shaft 6 is journaled. A Jrocket wheel? fixed on the shaft 5 and asprocket wheel 8 isfixed on the shaft 6. T he sprocket wheels 7 and 8 are fixed on the respective shaftsb "and tiflso asgto lie;- substantially; on the long tudlna-l center of the frame top 2. Around the sprocket wheels 7 and 8.1 have passed an endless chains, which at regular intervals throughout its entire length is provided with upstanding lugs-10 ,for the purpose of pushing ,theb Xes, to be herein ter described, througlrthecutters. The'upper half of the endless chain 9 moves over a guide member 11 which extends substantially thefull lengthof the frame top brackets are secured on opposite sides of the upper half of the chain 9,

a pair of guide strips 1 1 and are arranged and secured at their opposite ends to the [iii- "ets'12 and 13. The upper surfaceofthe auxiliary gitiide strips 14- and15 lies substantially iilushwfth theupper surface of the endless belt 9.; A box'placed on the guide strips 1 1 and 1.5 would be moved lengthwise thereon by t helu 's 10 on the chain 9 engaging end of the b0 7 1 i v In the center offthe v frame'to 'i2 l have mounted a housing or framestructurein whichthe boz; chamfering cutters are rotat ably journaled lllhe ho-using is open at each of. its oppositeends order ;-eceive" a be}; to be chamfer'e'd at one end and to discharge the said chamfered box out the opposits end thereof; Adjacent t intake end na led at Lll housing 20 shaft 21isjci oppo iteends and b'cari ii 22 iid 23 mounted onop osite sides of the'hoil. i'). 'lhebearand 23am r'ovided with antifrictioh and suitable packing "lands to retain lubricant on the bearing pa fixed on the shaft 21, on one side of the sprocket chain 9; said cutter 2st being fixedly l-;eyed.to the shaft 21. A companion cutter 25 is slidabl" spined' at 26 on the shaft 21 on the oppo "e side ofthe chain he cutters 2ean'd' 25 face each other and the cutter 25 is arranged on the shaft 21 so that it may move axially toward or fromfthe cutter 24-. Aston 27 restricts axial movement of the cutter 25 while movement of the cutter in the topposite direction istaken care ofgby a compression spring 28 interposed between the cutter and bearing The particular form of the structure forhousingthe spring oi'fother springs on the cutters may vary with. the form of the machine and if desired A. cutter 2a V 1,794,eoa-

may be entirely closed as shown at 29, so as to form a lubricant reservoir. An end of the mover 31 is also secured to the shaft 21 for the urnos'e; of imoartin rotative 'Lmovement a i 1 D thereto." The opposite end of the shaft 21 is provided with a worm 32 thereon which meshes with a'worinwheel mountedon a shaft 34; ournaled atitsopposite ends inthe bearings 35 and 36, respectively, mounted on the frame 1. The end of the shaft 3 1 in the bearing 36 is provided with a bevel gear 37 thereon'whichimeshes with a bevel gear 38 secured to the end of the sprocket shaft Thus rotative movement from the prime mover 31 is transmitted through the drive shaft 21 and through the interposedgearing to the sprocket shaft 6, by which continuous movement of the endless ch sin 9 is obtained in unison with the cutters.

An arm 40 is journaled at its lower end on the bearing 22 and a companion complementary arm 41 is journa'led at its lower end on the opposite bearing23. The'free ends of thearmslO and 41 are joined together by a cross shaft 1-2, the opposite ends of which'project through slots 1-3 provided in the opposite sides ofthehousing 20 adjacent the upper side thereoff Suitable nuts 44 are adjustably mounted on each of the opposite ends of theshaft 42. The nuts are adapted to be adancd into contact-with the opposite faces of the 'liousing '20' adjacent the arcuate slots l3jfor positioning the said arms 40 and4-1 in any selected p0sition'.'*An anti-friction bear- 111345 is mounted near the upper endof the arm lO and a" similar ZLIltlifIlCtlOIl bearing being arranged in substantialalignment with the cutter 24 mounted ona correspondside ofjthelower shaft 21. compression spring'51 is interposed between the cutter'eOand the bearing 15 so as tofadva'nce the cutter 50 towardthe center of the machine, movement of the. cutter 50 being limited by a stop'collar 52', *A' complementary cutter 53 is slidably splined on the shaft 47 facing the cutter 5G and said cutter 53 ,is adapted tobe moved axially on the'shaft 1-7. A compression spring 5% t "is mounted behind the cutter so that the-said. cutter may move length.-

wise of the shaft 47 within limits restricted by a the stop collar 53 and the compression spring 5%. The cutter 53 on the shaft 47' is arranged shaft are thus-.arrangedso as to bound a substantially'rectangular opening. A'belt 57 is passed aroundthel-pulleys 49- and 30 so that each. of the shafts 47, and;21 will operate to geth er and at the same rate of speed. 'A pair of side guide strips 59 and-60 are supported within the housing 20 ,on opposite sides of. the sprocket chain 9- and substantially midway between. the upper and lower cutter shaftslfl' and 21. The guide strips 60 are adjusted in and out on one side ofthe chain. 9'so as to compensate for irregularities in the size of the boxes being chamfered; A top guide strip 61 is adjustably suspended from the upper side'of thecaSin -QO. The bottom guides 14 and 15, side gui cs 59 and 60, and the upper guide 61 forma path in which a box having its: corners chamfered will move, and said guides areso arranged that differences in the sizes; of boxes? passing therethrough may be compensated for without in anywise affecting the operation of'thecorner cutters.

I'have arranged thecutters on the shafts so that one cutter is fixed while the remainlng three cutters are axially adjustable on. the respective shaftszsotha't in'theevent the boxes being chamfered. are not of a uniform size, the cutters will automatically adjust them:

selves with relation to the fixed cutters and to each other,.so that substantially the same depth of cut will be taken from each corner of the box irrespective of how much the width of the boxes passing through the, machine may vary. Boxes of varying heights may have the upper corners thereof chamfered' thereon,-each of which does not radiate from the axis thereof, but are offsetrelative thereto. The cutters are technically known as bevelled skew cutters, on account of the manner in which the teeth are formed thereon. I have found that the corner chamfering of boxes cannot be successfully done without utilizing skew cutters of the character I have shown, as ordinary bevel cutters do not function withany deg-reeof-eificiency. i The cutter, or cutters, which. I use are of new and novel design, being a beveled blank of desired cutting angle having a plur ality of what are technically called skew teeth: cut therein, each tooth. having its :cutti-ng edge set at a skew or angle, to a radial line in order to produce aslicing, cutting effect. Each tooth is also undercut to provide a means of escape for thelmateri'alv removed and to roducethetooth-edge.

, hisnovelshape-hasbeenefound to be the I V most-eflicientdesign and-is'not confined alone to chamfer ing, but materials. may be used in various operations. by, changing the cutting.

angleto any desired shape or form. By the use; of my invention, boxes may be. placed onthe; endless belt and fed through the cutters andithe four lengthwise corners of the box cut therefrom without the necessity of the machine operator adjustingor otherwise manipulating the apparatus with each box which may bepassed therethrou'gh.- My apparatus is entirely automatic in its operation and 'in'efiicient' and effective manner will cause the corners of a box-to be removed without let up'or delay.

Having thus described this invention-,- what,

l claim and 'desi-reto-secure by Letters Patent is: i l

'1. A machine for chamfering the corners of boxes comprising a base an endless con-i ranged adjacent said-endless conveyor to regulate the path of movement of the boxes; a-

aXia-l alinement onopposite'sides of saidbase,

and arranged in registry with the under faces of the boxes passing-through the guides to bevel the opposite under 'cornersof the boxes apai-r of'supportarms', each having one endt-hereof pivotallymounted adjacent oneof -the pair of spaced beveled cutters .jo'urnaled in, i

aforementionedcutter's;;a pairof spaced beveled-cuttersjournaled in axial alinement on the free en ds-zof :sai'd armsand substantlally eo planar with the first mentioned cutroo te-rs, and'arranged in registrywith the opposite "upper corners of the boxes passing l through, said guides to bevel the opposite upper, corners-of the. boxes; and means for actuating each; of said cutters and endless 2. A machine forachamfering the corners of boxes comprising abaseaan endless conveyor. to "move boxes over said-base; guides arranged adjacent said endless conveyor to regulate the path of movement of the-boxes;-

axpair of spaced beveled cuttersjou-rnaled in axial alinement Qnopposite-sidesofsaid'base,

thereof pivotallymounted adjacent one of the aforementioned cuttersyav pair of spaced beveledcutters journal'ed in axial al-inement on the free ends of said-arms and substa-ntially co-plana-rwith the first mentioned cutters, and arrangedinvregistrywith the through saidyg-uides to bevel .theopposite upper corners of the boxes; and (a common means for rotatingeach of said. cutters unison and for actuating said-endless belt.

125. opposite upper corners of the boxes passing the boxes passing through the guides to bevel the opposite under corners of the boxes; a

pair ofsupport 'arms, each having'one end thereof pivotally niountedadj acent one of the aforementioned cutters";a pair of spaced be eled cutters journaled in axial alin'ement on the free ends o1 said arms and substantially co p'lan'arwith the first mentioned cutters, and arranged"in registry with the opposite upper corn is of the boxes passing through said'guides to be'yel the opposite upper cor-' ners-ofthe-boxes; means for'adjusting the space between thefirst mentioned and second mentioned pair of cutters; and means for actuating each of said'cnttersandendless belt.

4. A machine for chainiieringthe corners of boxes comprisingbase} anendless conveyorto move boxes oversaid base; guides arranged adjacent said endlessconveyor to regulate the path of movementof the boxes; a pair of spaced beveledfcutters journaled in axial alinement on opposite sidesot said base; and arrangedin'registry with the under faces'ot' theboxes passing through the guides to bevel the opposite'under corners of the boxes; pai of support armsgeach'having one endthereot pivo'tally mounted adjacent one of the aforementioned cutters; a pair of spaced beveled cutters journaled in axial alinement on the free ends of said arms and substantially"co-planar with the first men tioned cutters, and arranged in registry with the oppositeupper corners ofthe boxes past- 1 through said guides to bevel the opposite upper corners of the boxes means for adjusting the-space between the' 'first mentioned andsecond mentioned pairof cutters;

and'a' common means for rotating each of said cutters inv unison and for actuating said endless belt. r I I A machine for chamf'ering the'corners of boxes comprisinga base; an endless-conveyor tomove theboxes over said base; guide stripsfladiustahlymounted onsaid'base on-op posite sides of and over saidendless conveyor to form an open ended passage Way'ifor the boxes; a pair of spaced cutters journaled in axial alinement on opposite sides of said base and arranged in registry with the under faces of the boxes passing through the guides to bevel the opposite under corners ofthe boxes; a pair of spaced cutters-journaled in axial alinement on opposite sides of said base sub- I stantially"co-planar With the first mentionec cutters, and arranged in registry with the upperiaces of the boxes passing'throughsaid guides to bevel the opposlte upper corners of the boxes; means for adjusting-the space between the first mentioned and second pair of cutters; and means for actuatingeach of said cutters and endle ssbelt. I r 7 1 V 6; A'machine for chamforing the corners of comprising a base; an endless conveyor to move the'bo-xes-over said base; guide strips 'adjustably mounted on saidbase on opposite sides of and over. said endless con- "or to form open ended passage Way for in resist-r 1 with-the under faces ofthe boxes .8 jassinzr through the Q'lllClBS .arms ournaled Q Q i i: 7 r v 11 said base a shaft rotatabl inounted-in the free ends of'said arms; a'pair ofcutters ,veyor to move the boxes over said base; guide strips adj'nstably mounted onQsaid base on opposite sides of and over said endless con-' veyor' to form an open ended passage Way "for the boxes; a pair of spaced cutters ournailed on oppositeisidesof said base andiarranged in regi try With the under faces :01.

the boxes passingthrough the guides; arms journaled on said base ymeans to adjust the position of the free-I ends of said arms relative to said base; a shattrotatably mounted in tllGflQB ends of said arms; apairot out. ters mounted adjacent oppositeendsot said shaft, substantially co-planai with said first mentioned cutters, and-arranged in registry vith theupper .faces of the boxes vpassing through'said guidesfand means for actuatin'g'each of said cutters and endless belt. I Y 8. A machine for chamferingtl e corn -rs of boxes comprising a base; an endlesscoin veyor to move the boxes over said base; guide strips adjustably mounted on said base on opposite sides of and over said endless/conveyor to form an open ended passage Way for the boxes; a shaft revolubly mounted in said base substantially parallel withthe plane ot movement oi sald endless conveyor;

apairot cutters mounted on said shaft in' registry with the under facesofboxes pass-i ing through the guides, one of said cutters being movable axially relatlveto the other cutter to accommodate boxes ot'varying widths; arms ournaled on said base; shaft rotatably mountedlnthe tree ends'of said arms; cutters achustably mounted on said last mentioned shaft substantially cQ planar with the cutters on said first mentioned shaft and arrangedin registry with theuppertaces oft the boxes passing through said guides; and means for effecting movement of each of said cutter shafts and endless belt.

ie boxes; a pair of spaced cutters jo urnaled' on opposite 5108s of Sfl'lCl base and arranged 9. A machine for chamfering the corners .of boxes comprising a base; an endless conistry with the underfaces of boxes passing through the guides, one of said cutters being movable axially relative to the other cutter to accommodate boxes ofvarying widths;- arms ournaled on sa d base; a shaft rotatably mounted in the free ends of said arms; cutters adjustably mounted on said last mentioned shaft substantially co-planar with the cutters on said first mentioned shaft and arranged in registry with the upper faces of the boxes passing through the said guides;

.means to adjust thepositicn of the free ends of said arms to regulate the placement of the cutters on the second mentioned shaft to accommodate boxes of varying heights; and

means for effecting movement of each of said cutter shafts and endless belt.

l0. In a machine for chamfering corners j of an ob ect, a shaft ournaled for rotation in of an object, a pair of axially alined rotatably mounted beveled cutters spaced to trim opposite corners of the object, a second pair of axially alined rotatably mounted beveled cutters spaced from the first pair of cutters and spaced from each other to trim other opposite corners of the object, means for mounting both cutters of one pair for axial movement, means for mounting a cutter of the other pair for axial movement, means for yieldingly holding the axially movable cut-- ters in position, and means for rotating the cutters. I

11. In a machine for chamfering corners of an object, a rotatably mounted cutter for trimming one corner of the object, a second rotatably mounted and yieldably held cutter spaced from the first cutter and adjustably movable about the axis of the first cutter for trimming an opposite corner of'the object, said second cutter being adjustable to accord with one dimension of the object and yieldable to accord with another dimension thereof, and means for rotating the cutters.

12. In a machine for chamfering corners of an object, a yieldably held rotatably mounted cutter for trimming one corner of the object, an arm adjustable about the axis of the first cutter a second yieldably held cutter spaced from the first cutter and ournaled in the arm for trimming an opposite corner of the object, said arm being adjust able to accord Withone dimension of the object and said cutters being yieldable to accord with other dimensionsthereof, and means for rotating the cutters. 7

13. In a machine for ohamferingcorners of an object, a pair of'rotatably mounted cutect, a second pair of rotatably'mounted out ters spaced from the first pair ofcutters and spaced from each other totrim othjer opposite corners of the object, one of the cutters of each pair being yieldably held against axial movement to automatically.accord with ters spaced to trim opposite corners of the ob- I one dimension of the object, means for'ad- 'justably positioning the second pair of cutters relative to the first pair to accord with another'dimension of the object, and means I for rotating the cutters.

14. In a machine for chamfering corners of an object, a pair of axially alined rotat ably mounted cutters spaced to trim opposite corners of'the object, a second pair of axially alined rotatably mounted cutters spaced from the first pair of cutters and spaced from each. other to trim other opposite corners of the object, means for adjustably positioning the second pair'of cuttersabout the axis of the first pair to accord with one d mension of" the object, means for yieldably holding three of the cutters to accord withother dimensions of the object, and means for rotating the cutters. V a

15. In a machine for ohamfering corners an axis substantially parallel to asurfaee of the object, a pair of cutters spaced to trim opposite corners of the object and fixed on the i I shaft for rotation therewith, a second shaft journaled for rotation and adj ustably mounted for movement about the axis of the first shaft to accord with one dimension of the object, a pair of cutters spaced to trim opposite corners of the object and fixed for rotation with the second shaft, one'of the cutters in the first mentioned pair and both of the cutters in the second mentioned pair being yieldably held against axial movement to accord with other dimensions of the object, and means for rotating the shafts.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at San Francisco, California, this 30th day of June, 1925.

' GEORGE D. GARDNER. 

